The Jake
10-10-2003, 12:56 AM
OK here goes...
I submitted a DSL order through the ISP I know work for.
Basically - I need broadband internet. Period.
Cable is not available in my area and satellite is not an option. Leaving DSL or wireless. Given the uncertainty of reliable wireless connections in my area, I've elected for DSL.
Unfortunately it is now tied up between two third parties who are required to get the work completed - Covad & Verizon.
My ISP goes through Covad for their DSL services and they, in turn, must go through Verizon to get my service underway. Verizon own the equipment and lines in my area so there is absolutely no way around but through them in order to obtain this service (unless we move, which isn't an option).
There is a fault somewhere between Covad & Verizon. Covad have tried to make numerous meets to get access to their equipment held onsite by Verizon. Everytime they've requested access to Covad's equipment, Verizon have rejected the request. They have done this close to five times now.
It is now 8 weeks since I submitted my DSL order, and I still have no DSL. Typically it takes 4 weeks. Calling my ISP does very little as they follow their little escalation procedures and don't do much else. Hell, getting a callback out of them has been like squeezing blood from a stone.
In that time Verizon even managed to kill the voice portion of my line and when I pointed out I had no dialtone, they blamed my ISP and told me to take it up with them (strange... last I heard Verizon were responsible for my local calls, not my ISP...).
If it weren't for the fact my neighbour works for Verizon, we'd still have no phone service. That said she won't help me because she doesn't like me bad mouthing the company she works for - despite the fact I haven't said one word of anything that isn't true and I've gone out of my way to be polite about the situation around her. Personally I don't understand what the **** her problem is but that's largely irrelevant...
Calling Verizon is near to useless since I get put on hold for 70+ minutes, transferred endlessly to various people without a clue. They keep telling me it's Covad's problem with their equipment but how can Covad get access to their equipment if Verizon keeps denying them access?
I believe Verizon are exhibiting anti competitive behaviour and violating anti trust laws. I believe they are doing this because I am not going through them for DSL. I have already lodged complaints through the FTC, Antitrust Dept of the DOJ, BBB. I am also seriously contemplating litigation against these *******s.
My next steps are:
1) To email the 2 Vendor relationship managers here in response to this (hoping they can crack some skulls with both companies and get this fixed).
2) I also have managed to nab the number we use for ADSL escalations through Verizon directly so I can speak to the *******s who keep rejecting Covad's request.
Apart from calling up 60 Minutes or something like that, I can't work out what I should do.
Can anyone else offer me any advice on how to tackle this?
I'm contemplating calling several media outlets and try to explain the story because I think there is a decent story here. I also think it wouldn't take too much investigation to churn up many other Verizon "customers" getting shafted like this and I also think that given the recent legal rulings re: sharing of telephony services with third parties for internet, that Verizon could find itself in very very hot water. Like I said, I'm also contemplating legal action as I have more than enough legal evidence I think to damn them in a very big way. I still don't know what I should do for certain though :(
Thanks,
- J.
I submitted a DSL order through the ISP I know work for.
Basically - I need broadband internet. Period.
Cable is not available in my area and satellite is not an option. Leaving DSL or wireless. Given the uncertainty of reliable wireless connections in my area, I've elected for DSL.
Unfortunately it is now tied up between two third parties who are required to get the work completed - Covad & Verizon.
My ISP goes through Covad for their DSL services and they, in turn, must go through Verizon to get my service underway. Verizon own the equipment and lines in my area so there is absolutely no way around but through them in order to obtain this service (unless we move, which isn't an option).
There is a fault somewhere between Covad & Verizon. Covad have tried to make numerous meets to get access to their equipment held onsite by Verizon. Everytime they've requested access to Covad's equipment, Verizon have rejected the request. They have done this close to five times now.
It is now 8 weeks since I submitted my DSL order, and I still have no DSL. Typically it takes 4 weeks. Calling my ISP does very little as they follow their little escalation procedures and don't do much else. Hell, getting a callback out of them has been like squeezing blood from a stone.
In that time Verizon even managed to kill the voice portion of my line and when I pointed out I had no dialtone, they blamed my ISP and told me to take it up with them (strange... last I heard Verizon were responsible for my local calls, not my ISP...).
If it weren't for the fact my neighbour works for Verizon, we'd still have no phone service. That said she won't help me because she doesn't like me bad mouthing the company she works for - despite the fact I haven't said one word of anything that isn't true and I've gone out of my way to be polite about the situation around her. Personally I don't understand what the **** her problem is but that's largely irrelevant...
Calling Verizon is near to useless since I get put on hold for 70+ minutes, transferred endlessly to various people without a clue. They keep telling me it's Covad's problem with their equipment but how can Covad get access to their equipment if Verizon keeps denying them access?
I believe Verizon are exhibiting anti competitive behaviour and violating anti trust laws. I believe they are doing this because I am not going through them for DSL. I have already lodged complaints through the FTC, Antitrust Dept of the DOJ, BBB. I am also seriously contemplating litigation against these *******s.
My next steps are:
1) To email the 2 Vendor relationship managers here in response to this (hoping they can crack some skulls with both companies and get this fixed).
2) I also have managed to nab the number we use for ADSL escalations through Verizon directly so I can speak to the *******s who keep rejecting Covad's request.
Apart from calling up 60 Minutes or something like that, I can't work out what I should do.
Can anyone else offer me any advice on how to tackle this?
I'm contemplating calling several media outlets and try to explain the story because I think there is a decent story here. I also think it wouldn't take too much investigation to churn up many other Verizon "customers" getting shafted like this and I also think that given the recent legal rulings re: sharing of telephony services with third parties for internet, that Verizon could find itself in very very hot water. Like I said, I'm also contemplating legal action as I have more than enough legal evidence I think to damn them in a very big way. I still don't know what I should do for certain though :(
Thanks,
- J.